Media by Associated Press – Detroit Tigers’ Jeimer Candelario runs toward first base in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Monday, June 20, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The Boston Red Sox have had the Detroit Tigers’ number seemingly since they “upset” them in the 2013 playoffs when the infamous bullpen police officer raised his fists as Torii Hunter fell into the Sox’ bullpen.
Boston has won four straight in the season series and look to extend that streak at 7:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Fenway Park in Boston.
Boston (38-31) send Michael Wacha to the bump. He is 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA, and 41 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched. The Red Sox are 7-3 when he starts, and the under is 6-4 in those starts.
Detroit (26-42) counters with southpaw Tarik Skubal, who has been excellent this season. He is 5-4 with a 3.13 ERA, and 79 strikeouts in 74.2 innings pitched. Though he’s allowed 12 earned runs in his last three starts. The Tigers are 5-4 in his starts this season.
The Red Sox have used a 15-4 month of June to climb to third in the AL East and hold a wild card spot for now.
The Tigers are underdogs at +120 on the moneyline compared to the favorite Red Sox at -140. The run line favors the Red Sox -1.5 (+140), with the Tigers more likely at +1.5 (-165). The over/under is a pick ‘em at 8.5.
Detroit Tigers Betting Preview: Supporting Skubal
Despite having the league’s worst offense, the Tigers have done a good job of providing run support for Skubal. Detroit is averaging a putrid 2.96 runs per game, ranking last, with a .227 batting average (27th) and .610 OPS, second worst.
The categorical leaders are: Miguel Cabrera hitting .300 with 23 RBIs, Javier Baez, has 13 doubles, and Jonathan Schoop has six home runs.
There are three regulars with a batting average at .196 or worse. Aside from Cabrera, the lone bright spot has been Riley Greene’s first four games, where he is 5 for 12 with three runs scored and five walks drawn.
The pitching staff has been decent, allowing 4.42 runs per game, ranking 19th. They are around league average in batting average against, OPS, and home runs allowed.
They are 9-20 on the road and 24-42-2 on over/unders this season.
Boston Red Sox Betting Preview: Keep the offense rolling
Believe it or not, Boston’s offense was the issue early on in the season. But it has climbed to eighth in the league with 4.77 runs per game, the third-best average at .258, and the eighth-best OPS at .733. Their 7.95 strikeouts per game is the eighth fewest.
Rafael Devers is having a MVP caliber season if not for Aaron Judge running away with it. Devers is hitting .328 with 53 runs scored, 24 doubles, 16 home runs, and 43 RBIs. Xander Bogaerts is hitting .335 with 20 doubles and 42 runs scored.
J.D. Martinez has a .330 average with 23 doubles and 39 runs scored. Aside from the big three, the others are heating up, with Trevor Story sporting 15 doubles, 11 home runs, and a team high 48 RBIs.
The pitching staff has been far better than expected, ranking seventh in the league with 4.02 runs per game, a .230 batting average against, and opposing OPS of .676.
Tigers/Red Sox Betting Prediction
Skubal is a difficult matchup, but he has been struggling, as has the Tigers’ offense. This feels like a series the Red Sox close out with the torrid pace they’re on throughout June. We’ll take Red Sox -1.5 (+140) to try and secure a little larger profit.
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